In the mystery of "THE SATAPUR MOONSTONE", Perveen Mistry, one of India's first women lawyers, is employed by the Kolhapur Agency on a short-term basis to adjudicate and devise an agreement which would ensure the best education for 10 year old Maharaja Jiva Rao of the Kingdom of Satapur (one of India's princely states, which under the aegis of the British Raj, enjoyed local autonomy). The reason for Perveen being given this delicate assignment was a bitter dispute between the kingdom's 2 maharanis (Jiva Rao's mother and his grandmother, the dowager queen) as to the type of education each desired for the maharaja, who had recently lost both his father and older brother (in the latter case, a tragic hunting accident was the likely cause of death). And as both maharanis were in purdah, no man was permitted to see and/or have any direct dealings with either of them. Here is where Perveen's services as a lawyer were needed and required. 

What follows as the story progresses once Perveen makes the journey from Bombay to the isolated Kingdom of Satapur (via the Circuit House situated at some distance from the Kingdom, where the British political agent responsible for overseeing matters pertaining to Satapur and the surrounding area resides) are various palace intrigues and unforeseen hazards that may imperil the maharaja and Perveen herself. 

Sujata Massey has again crafted a compelling and thrilling novel with fully realized characters no reader can be indifferent to. In addition to a map of the Kingdom of Satapur, there is also a glossary that identifies many of the terms used in the novel that are uniquely associated with the India of that era (i.e., the early 1920s and earlier). 

Simply put, "THE SATAPUR MOONSTONE" is a winner! I can't wait to read the next novel in the series

On the one hand, I really love the way that Wilkie Collins has constructed this book, with the "story" at the beginning, told from the perspective of Betteredge, who is a fantastic character, and then with the additional narratives at the end, that provide the perspectives of the additional characters.

Miss Clack is a peach. 

However, on the other hand, I want to shake Collins and yell at him to get on with it man. I'm at 78% and I am ready for this book to be finished. I remember this sensation from the first time that I read this book as well.

I will finish this book today. I am setting aside everything else to get it done.

I've finished the Death on the Nile reread, which I loved, as I knew that I would, so all of my holdover reading has been completed.

Unfortunately, I have a very busy couple of weeks ahead, with two significant trials, so I'm spending most of my weekend with my work computer, building my trial books and prepping. I worked for 6 hours yesterday, and probably will work for the same or more today & tomorrow. 

There is a little bit of time available for reading, though, and I've settled on my extra Memorial Day reads:

28: Read a book that is identified as romance or chick-lit, or that has a cover that is more than 50% pink.

I was on the fence about this one, but then I checked out my small collection of Black Dog & Levanthal Agatha Christie hardbacks and realized that The Body in the Library is more than 50% pink. This is one that I haven't reread in a long time, and it's a good one!

6. Read a book set in your home town, state, or country or that you checked out of your local library or that has been on your (physical) bookshelves since last summer.

I dithered on this one quite a bit, but settled on the Barnes and Noble Classics edition of The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins, which fills one of my few remaining Detection Club bingo spaces. I'd really like to finish up with that project in June.

16. Read a book that is a mystery or suspense, or which has a title that contains all of the letters in the word C-A-B-I-N.

I am planning on reading The Division Bell Mystery by Ellen Wilkinson, which I checked out of the library. Tigus liked it, so I have high hopes! This will leave me with just 3 open squares on my Detection Club bingo card!